EPL Week 4 – Top Picks and Predicitons

West Brom have agreed a fee of $9.22m plus $3m in add-on with Manchester United for defender Johnny Evans.

Jonny Evans has no place in Van Gaal’s plans (Getty images)

Evans will travel to West Brom on Saturday and expected to finalize the move over the weekend.

West Brom boss Tony Pulis thinks Evans will be a great addition to his side.

“Jonny would be a great signing for the football club but it’s down to the money men and his side,” Pulis said at a news conference on Friday.

Evans has made 198 appearances for the Red Devils winning three EPL titles in the process. However, the Northern Ireland international has fallen out of favor with United boss Louis van Gaal and has yet to feature for the Red Devils this season.

Spurs Sign South Korean Son

Tottenham have signed South Korean international Son Heung-Min from German club Bayer Leverkusen.

Son Heung-Min in action in this year’s Champions League qualifications. (Getty Images)

The 23-year-old forward has scored 19 goals in 87-appearances for Leverkusen since joining in 2013.

The deal, which is reportedly worth $33.87m and will see Son stay until 2020, casts doubts over speculation linking Saido Berahino with a move to the club – Spurs have reportedly had two bids for Saido Berahino rejected by West Brom, who say the 22-year-old will not be sold.

Predictions

Week 4

SATURDAY

Predictions

Newcastle v Arsenal

1-2

Aston Villa v Sunderland

1-1

Bournemouth v Leicester

2-3

Chelsea v Crystal Palace

3-0

Liverpool v West Ham

2-0

Man City v Watford

4-0

Stoke v West Brom

2-1

Tottenham v Everton

1-0

SUNDAY

Southampton v Norwich

2-1

Swansea v Man Utd

1-2

A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth ONE point. Getting the exact score correct earns THREE points.

Previews

SATURDAY

Newcastle v Arsenal

Newcastle lost last week and will be hoping they can improve with a good result against Arsenal this week.

They drew 0-0 with Manchester United last weekend and remain without a win in the EPL this season. The have played against three tough sides – Southampton, Swansea and Manchester United – and did show good resilience against Manchester United, but they need to start picking up points soon or it could be a tough season for them.

Petr Cech earned himself the MVP for his performance against Liverpool. (Getty Images)

Arsenal failed to score a goal at the Emirates for the second successive game with a 0-0 draw at home to Liverpool. The Gunners could quite easily have been two or three goals down in the open quarter of the game, if not for the heroics of keeper Petr Cech. However, they did have a legitimate goal ruled out and finished the game the stronger side.

Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko is a doubt, but Papa Cisse looks likely to return after illness. Daryl Janmaat is available again after a ban and Florian Thauvin could be handed his first Premier League start.

Arsenal look set to continue without the defensive pairing of Laurent Koscienly and Per Mertesacker. While Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere also remain out with injury.

Arsenal have scored just 5% if their shots this season – the lowest of any EPL side. However, they have won their last seven games against Newcastle, scoring 20 goals and conceding just six and I expect them to edge this one.

Prediction: 1-2

Chelsea v Crystal Palace

Jose Mourinho celebrates his 100th EPL home game this weekend with a London Derby against Crystal Palace.

John Terry was sent off lat week and will have to sit out of this one.(Getty Images)

Chelsea edged out West Brom 3-2 last week. The Blues played well with new signing Pedro impressing on his debut. But the sending off John Terry changed the game and in the end Chelsea were lucky to leave with all three points.

Crystal Palace beat Aston Villa 2-1 at home last week to make it two wins out of three. The Eagles have improved immensely under Alan Pardew and actually have the joint best away record in the EPL in 2015 – 22-points, level with Chelsea and Arsenal.

Chelsea will be without captain John Terry who is suspended, meaning Gary Cahill will partner Kurt Zouma at the back.

New signing Baba Rahman is short of fitness, while Victor Moses and Oscar remain injury doubts.

Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie will be involved despite the passing of his father. Mile Jedinak will miss the game after suffering a hamstring injury in the midweek League Cup win over Shrewsbury.

Jose Mourinho faces the best away side in the EPL so far in 2015 for his 100th EPL home game. But he has only ever lost one of his previous 99 games at Stamford Bridge in the EPL and I expect him to win this one.

Prediction: 3-0

Liverpool v West Ham

Liverpool continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 0-0 draw away to Arsenal. The Reds played well and will be scratching their heads wondering how they didn’t score goal.

Coutinho has made a fantastic start to the season for Liverpool. (Getty Images)

Philippe Coutinho was again impressive and appears to have a formed a good connection with new signing Christian Benteke.

West Ham lost 4-3 at home to Bournemouth, to lose their second successive game on the trot. The Hammers have signed a lot of new faces over the summer and looked like a team of strangers at Upton.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is a doubt with a foot injury, while Adam Lallana Jon Flanagan and Joe Allen all remain out injured.

West Ham will be without Enner Valencia, Mauro Zarate and Andy Carroll because of injury, while Adrian and Carl Jenkinson are suspended. Though Diafro Sakho should feature despite a muscle problem.

Liverpool are playing well and seem to be improving by the week, while West Ham seem to have deteriorated since their opening day win at Arsenal.

West Ham have not won in 42 visits to Liverpool with their last win at Anfield coming in 1963 – The Reds only have a longer top-flight unbeaten home streak against Stoke City (52 matches) – and I think they will continue that streak with an easy victory on Saturday.

Prediction: 2-0

Man City v Watford

Manchester City continued their impressive start to the season with a fine 2-0 victory away to Everton. The signing of Raheem Sterling on the left seems to have given David Silva more room in the middle to operate, which is bad news for opposing teams and it means City are going to create a lot more chances.

Newly promoted side Watford drew 0-0 at home to Southampton to make it three draws in their opening three EPL games. The Hornets have kept a clean sheet in their last two games, but Saturday will probably be their biggest test of the season as they face the EPL’s top scoring side from last season.

David Silva continues to orchestrate the creative play for City. (Getty Images)

Manchester City are unbeaten in their last seven league and cup games against Watford (W5, D2).

Wilfred Bony, Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy and Fernando are ruled out for City, but new signing Nicolas Otamendi is available for his debut.

Watford will continue without Joel Ekstrand who is injured, while Miguel Britos is suspended following a red card in the League Cup midweek.

Manchester City are unbeaten in their last seven league and cup games against Watford (W5, D2) and I expect them to extend that unbeaten run with a comfortable victory.

Predictions: 4-0

SUNDAY

Swansea v Man Utd

Swansea 1-1 drew away to Sunderland last week to remain unbeaten in their opening three games. Bafetimbi Gomis was once again on the scoresheet for the Swans and has now scored eight goals in his last nine Premier League games for Swansea.

Rooney got the monkey off is back with his mid-week hat trick in Europe. (Getty Images)

Manchester United 100% record ended last week with a 0-0 draw at home to Newcastle United. Wayne Rooney once again looked isolated and devoid of service up top against Newcastle, but he scored a hat-trick midweek in the Champions League qualifier so he may have found his mojo again.

Ki Sung-yeung is vying for a place in the starting lineup after returning from injury, otherwise Swansea are likely to name the same side that drew away to Sunderland last week.

Marouane Fellaini is available for Manchester United again after serving a three-game suspension. Marcos Rojo may also come back into the squad but Phil Jones will miss out again with mild thrombosis.

Swansea City did the double against United in the EPL last season -They were the only team to do the league double against United in 2014-15. In fact, United have won only two of their 12 league matches at Swansea (D3, L7).

Swansea are playing well and have transformed themselves into one of the EPL’s toughest teams to play against. I think they will give United a game, but I expect the Red Devils to just sneak this one.

Predictions: 1-2

About Anthony Ta

Anthony Ta is a writer for the GotSoccer Magazine, specializing in Premier League, Champions League and the Euros.